The Online special developed by
Keith Mckenzie with Plus Value Awareness
Encourage Inclusive dancing regardless of ability or difficulties
Available all year round and supports dancing events every April
Including Autism Dance Day
25th April
and International Dance Day
29th April
This online special will present a number of specialised projects and development which is aimed to change attitudes towards Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Social Anxiety when dancing. Also to encourage more people with hidden differences to dance regardless of background, abilities and difficulties.
Available all year round, this online feature was originally created to support Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day. This is also developed with the Project Director's website and social media.
On this website
New
Unify Dancing not divide
The themed information page to remind not to use differences of abilities to divide or exclude at dancing envionments
For Autism Dance Day & International Dance Day & beyond
Coming Soon
A new blog article linked with this year theme "Unify Dancing not divide".
Also, a new video promotion on social media to spead the word of the "Embrace Dancing" awareness feature
On the project director's website
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Blog: Ableism in Dancing
Challenges and prejudices from the Project Director's Prespective
On WordPress (insight blog)
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On Social Media
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"Be Bold, Be Birmingham" video campaign
Featuring an interview with the Project Director on Birmingham's legacy since the Commonwealth Games
via Birmingham City Council's YouTube channel
Support Additional features to discover
Dancing Direction
The online feature on the dancing related projects and developments by the Project Director
Find out more by visiting the Project Director's website
Celebration Special
The project director special involvement of a celebration surprise
Find out more by visiting the Project Director's website
Information
Embace Dancing is a special feature that Project Director Keith Mckenzie have developed in April 2023 for supporting Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day. With the overall aim for everyone including with hidden differences to celebrate a positive form of expression and activity. Orginally it was presented online and Social media in late April and throughout May, however since the feedback this online special is now availaible all year round. The "Embrace Dancing" special appears on the this website and over on the Plus Value Awareness website along with Social Media.
In April 2023 a new mini project was launched on the Plus Value Awareness website to coincide the launch this online special project to improve inclusiveness of hidden differences with dance activities and envionments titled "Inclusive to Dance". In October the project expanded with introducing a family of inclusivity pledges.
For supporting Autism Dance Day in 2023, the I was featured on social media in a salsa dancing video for supporting this year's Autism Dance Day with Professional and teacher Jayne Emily Turpin.
Later in 2023, a the family of downloadable inclusivity pledges which was developed link with the project Inclusive to dance.
In January 2024 the Embrace Dancing feature expanded with the inclusivity dancing suggestion documents "Beyond Understanding" with the documents available for everyone to access and download the two specially developed publications.
The Embrace dancing special also provides online links to the community related video campaign featuring me by Birmingham City Council to showcase Birmingham's legacy since hosting the Commonwealth Games.
On this website an the online feature on my dancing related developments including dance class assistant and a participant at dancing conventions. It also includles dancing related creative and design projects including marketing for a legendary dance studio in the Midlands.
To support the dancing events in April 2024, a specially themed project was created under the title "Open Mind" to encourage change of perceptions. In addition, two blog articles were made with one linked with the "Open Mind" theme. In the second blog, the Project Director shares his personal experiences and the challenges of ableism in dancing.
"Unify dancing, not divide" is the theme for 12 months from April 2025 onwards. Addressing the importance of not use perceptions or differences of abilities to divide or exclude at dancing environments.
Please note
Some of the information also applies to Neurodiversity, Invisible Disabilities and with Anxiety
An identical version of this online feature is available via the the project Director's website
Supporting dancing related awareness events in April
Autism Dance Day
This year's date: 25th April
Anna Kennedy Online presents a special annual online and social media event which has existed for the past 14 years since 2011 by the Award-winning awareness campaigner Anna Kennedy OBE. The day demonstrates how dancing is inspiring and can be beneficial for autistic people. Event also Showcase talents from the autistic spectrum of all ages and all types of backgrounds.
International Dance Day
The worldwide annual event is developed and promoted by the France and China based organisation "The Dance Committee of ITI (International Thetare Institute)" since 1982.
The 29th of April marks her birthday of iconic modern ballet dancer Jean-Georges Noverne (1727-1810). To celebrate dancing regardless of political culture ethnic and other backgrounds. Who in the fine dancing as a universal communication regardless of language and abilities.
Statement for Autism Dance Day
Dancing is a universal language which can bring the best out of others. Everyone living on the autistic spectrum should have the right to to express themselves through dancing without barriers and obstacles. As well as the positive benefits, dancing in inspiring and bring the best out of others. Everyone needs to remove negative barriers which enable more autistic people to dance and to denonstate the positive passions.
Statement for International Dance Day
Dancing is an expressive artform which breaks across all types of cultures language and backgrounds. It brings spirit, passion, energy, emotion and much more.
So regardless of background, culture, abilities, disabilities or difficulties, everyone should have the right to dance without barriers and obstacles.
Emabace Dancing is an online special feature available all year round
Supporting
Autism Dance Day
International Dance Day
Developed with
Connected with
Share this online special to your social media profile and via email
The description “Hidden Differences” are used for this initiative which covers independent, intelligent and articulate adults and young people who live with specific difficulties which as hidden and would not be visually obviously at first impression. The examples including memory, on the spot thinking ability, communication, reading, writing & calculation. These example above mainly relates certain people with Autism (at mild level), ADHD, Social Anxiety, Dyspraxia and Dyslexia. This initiative also features Social Anxiety.
